Cal-OSHA’s investigation into Tesla Motors accident continues

Share this:

Tesla CEO Elon Musk talks to the media about the condition of the factory workers who were injured at the Tesla plant earlier in the day, outside of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health said Thursday that its investigation into an industrial accident at Tesla Motors (TSLA)’ Fremont factory is ongoing. On Wednesday, three workers were injured with burns when a low-pressure aluminum casting press malfunctioned. CEO Elon Musk visited the employees Wednesday evening at Valley Medical Center in San Jose.

“Cal-OSHA was back out there today,” said the agency’s spokesman, Peter Melton. “The machine hasn’t been used since the accident, but we’ll be clearing the use of that machine soon.”

The agency’s investigation is ongoing and could take up to six months. The agency will issue citations if it finds a violation.

According to records kept by the U.S. Department of Labor, Tesla’s Fremont factory was fined $2,700 in September 2012 for a violation uncovered during an accident investigation. And in November 2011, a Tesla employee at the company’s Palo Alto headquarters lost the tip of his finger when it was caught in a piece of equipment. In that case, Tesla was fined $5,400.

“We need to go over some procedures to make sure there isn’t another accident” Melton said.

Contact Dana Hull at 408-920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/danahull.

More in Technology

A Mountain View entrepreneur who developed a device to help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, captured the $20,000 first prize in the 19th annual Big Bang! Business Competition at UC Davis.